Console font size command

[Chazzmundo]

As implied from the title, is there any system(""); commands to alter the font size whilst running the program?

Otherwise my console app will be difficult to read for some users.

I already manipulate the colour scheme with system("color xy");

Where x and y represent different colour codes. But is there a way to do the same sort of thing but increasing the actual font size instead?

Thank you for any help you can provide :)

[hamsterman]

I don't think this is possible with system(). You have to take a platform specific way.
On windows, see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms682073(VS.85).aspx
The one you need is SetCurrentConsoleFontEx.
Also, for colors you should use SetConsoleTextAttribute as it allows several different colors in different locations at the same time.

[Chazzmundo]

Thank you for the site but i do not understand how to call this particular function or the other one for colour settings?

[hamsterman]

You need a handle returned by GetStdHandle. example:

SetConsoleTextAttribute(
    GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE),
    0xFC
);

When you try changing font size, you should first get the CONSOLE_FONT_INFOEX structure with GetCurrentConsoleFontEx, change the size member and then call SetCurrentConsoleFontEx.

[Chazzmundo]

I am sorry but that didn't make much sense to me at all :S

I have not progressed into HANDLE's properly yet and have only touched on them whilst using them to set/get clipboard text.

When getting the CONSOLE_FONT_INFOEX structure what do I need to set it to?

Will the following be what I need?

//define a struct to hold the info
typedef struct console_info {
  ULONG cbSize;
  DWORD nFont;
  COORD dwFontSize;
  UINT  FontFamily;
  UINT  FontWeight;
  WCHAR FaceName[LF_FACESIZE];
} console_info;

//retrieve info
GetCurrentConsoleFontEx( GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE), false, console_info);

//adjust heights
console_info.dwFontSize.X = 9;
console_info.dwFontSize.Y = 9;

//set info
SetCurrentConsoleFontEx( GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE), false, console_info);

[hamsterman]

No. Are you unfamiliar with structs? If so, you may want to read this: http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/structures/

here's a full example. I can't say if it works, because apparently functions Get/SerCurrentConsoleFontEx are only available in windows vista and later.

#include <iostream>
#include <windows.h>

int main(){
    HANDLE outcon = GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE);//you don't have to call this function every time

    CONSOLE_FONT_INFOEX font;//CONSOLE_FONT_INFOEX is defined in some windows header
    GetCurrentConsoleFontEx(outcon, false, &font);//PCONSOLE_FONT_INFOEX is the same as CONSOLE_FONT_INFOEX*
    font.dwFontSize.X = 7;
    font.dwFontSize.Y = 12;
    SetCurrentConsoleFontEx(outcon, false, &font);
    
    SetConsoleTextAttribute(outcon, 0x0C);
    std::cout << "I'm red";
    std::cin.get();
    return 0;
}

[Chazzmundo]

Err i touched upon ita while back just forgot it XD.

Im running vista but getting problems.

847 C:\Users\Chazz & Bill\Documents\prog\exercises.tictactoe\main.cpp `HANDLE' undeclared (first use this function)

848 C:\Users\Chazz & Bill\Documents\prog\exercises.tictactoe\main.cpp `CONSOLE_FONT_INFOEX' undeclared (first use this function)

849 C:\Users\Chazz & Bill\Documents\prog\exercises.tictactoe\main.cpp `GetCurrentConsoleFontEx' undeclared (first use this function)

852 C:\Users\Chazz & Bill\Documents\prog\exercises.tictactoe\main.cpp `SetCurrentConsoleFontEx' undeclared (first use this function)

853 C:\Users\Chazz & Bill\Documents\prog\exercises.tictactoe\main.cpp `SetConsoleTextAttribute' undeclared (first use this function)

possible header file not included?


EDIT: upon including the <Wincon.h> header file (as suggested by google), i get LOADS if errors similar to:

60 C:\Dev-Cpp\include\Wincon.h `WCHAR' does not name a type

186 C:\Dev-Cpp\include\Wincon.h `WINAPI' does not name a type

any ideas?

[hamsterman]

As in my example, #include <windows.h>

[Chazzmundo]

i missed that XD

Ok i done as you said and included that file too but although it has drastically reduced the problems there still remain a few:

850 C:\Users\Chazz & Bill\Documents\prog\exercises.tictactoe\main.cpp `CONSOLE_FONT_INFOEX' undeclared (first use this function)

851 C:\Users\Chazz & Bill\Documents\prog\exercises.tictactoe\main.cpp `GetCurrentConsoleFontEx' undeclared (first use this function)

854 C:\Users\Chazz & Bill\Documents\prog\exercises.tictactoe\main.cpp `SetCurrentConsoleFontEx' undeclared (first use this function)

in my program i included:

#include <cstdlib>
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <math.h>
#include <conio.h>
#include <windows.h>
#include <Wincon.h>

// For time() and random
#include <ctime>    
#include <cstdlib> 

[Disch]

Is this yet more examples of people trying to do things with the console that they shouldn't be?

I do believe so!

=P

[Chazzmundo]

yes i know there are easier ways to do it with an app but i want a command line based prog atm :)

If it is possible i see no reason not to do so in this case as although it uses these calls in a roundabout way and uses alot more processing, the simple fact of the matter is in this program its not big enough to make a difference to be honest and i simply wish to learn :)